West Bromwich Albion are in the Potteries tonight as their pre-season preparations continue with a meeting with Port Vale.

The penultimate match of Albion’s pre-season campaign, before the final game against Pepe Mel’s Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, Tony Pulis will have everything crossed this evening that his threadbare squad come through the run-out unscathed.

The Baggies didn’t escape the 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers on Saturday without a number of knocks that leave them sweating; Chris Brunt, James McClean and Matt Phillips are the latest names Albion are fretting on, while Jake Livermore may not be risked this evening either.

James Morrison and Gareth McAuley are already missing, meaning Pulis has quite a headache for the season opener at home to Bournemouth on August 12 - though the club remain on the look-out for new arrivals in the transfer window.

Join Paul Suart this evening at Vale Park for coverage, analysis and reaction.